Flam, Norway - Overland to Voss on the Flam Railway

Flam is located on the Aurlandsfjord, one of the fjords of Norway. Aurlandsfjord is an off-shoot of the longest Norwegian fjord Songefjord, which stretches inland over 100 miles from the sea. Since the fjords of Norway have depths of up to 4000 feet, even large modern cruise ships can sail inland to quaint villages like Flam.

Flam is often included as a cruise ship port of call because of the Flam Railway, which rises almost 3000 feet straight up the mountains to Myrdal, where it links to the Bergen-Oslo Railway. The train ride from Flam to Myrdal takes about an hour, and includes 20 tunnels and panoramic views of the Norwegian mountains.

Our "Overland to Voss, Tvinde, and Stalheim" tour from the Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Seas started with a ride on the Flam Railway, followed by a second train to Voss. After lunch and time to explore Voss, we returned to the ship via bus, stopping at the Tvinde Waterfall and the Stalheim Hotel. It was a terrific way to see this part of Norway.

M...MOREodern steering systems allow large cruise ships to navigate the narrow fjords of Norway. Winding for over 100 miles, Sognefjord is Norway's longest fjord.

More Ports on the Fjords of Norway

• Bergen
• Alesund
• Geiranger
• Norwegian Coastal Voyage Cruise Log

The fog hangs low over this fjord of Norway. Isn't it lovely?

One of the many waterfalls along the route of the Flam Railway. With over 20 tunnels and many vistas such as this one, it is a fantastic ride!

The Flam Railway has 10 stops on the 3000-foot rise from Flam to Myrdal. This village is one of them.

View of the small village of Flam on Aurlandsfjord, one of the many fjords of Norway, from the Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Seas cruise ship.

Do you wonder if this small hut/cottage might be a sauna since it has a chimney?

The Flam Railway train curves around the mountain on the way to Myrdal. This scenic ride is a great way to see the coastal mountains of Norway.

The mountains of Norway are still patched with snow in June. The Flam Railway and the train from Myrdal to Voss feature many views such as this one.

View from the train on the way from Flam to the Myrdal junction.

This lovely red barn and grazing horse on one side of the train were an interesting contrast to the snowy mountains and lakes on the other side.

The mountain views from the Flam Railway and the train between Myrdal and Voss are beautiful.

Every photo gallery from Norway has to include a picture of a troll! The "real" trolls are shy and can't be photographed.

The Flam Railway stops at the Kjosfossen Waterfall, which supplies the hydroelectric power for the railroad. The waterfall drops 305 feet.

Be sure to look for the "dancing maiden" at the Kjosfossen Waterfall!

The Myrdal train station links the 12-mile Flam Railway to the main rail line connecting Oslo and Bergen. Those traveling to Voss from Flam change trains here.

Voss is a small tourist town on the Bergen-Oslo railway. It's a great place for lunch on a shore excursion from Flam.

Voss is about 39 miles from Flam and features winter skiing and the Voss Church, which dates back to the 12th century. The church has 7-foot thick walls.

The bus ride from Voss back to Flam stops for a few minutes at the lovely Tvinde Waterfall. Note for ladies - the restroom has a great view of the falls!

Close-up view of the Tvinde Waterfall near Voss, Norway.

The residents of Flam and Voss had a bonfire set up to celebrate the summer solstice. Instead of on the fjord, this bonfire was on Vangs Lake in Voss.

This green valley near Voss is a wonderful contrast to the snow-covered mountains nearby.

The Stalheim Hotel features a marvelous view of the Naeroy Valley. It was difficult to decide which was better--the view or the delicious pastries served at the hotel!

Sod roofs always make great photos. This small hut sits on a small lake near Voss.

The buffet lunch at Fleischer's is a nice break before taking time to explore the tourist village of Voss.

This river was near the Tvinde Waterfall. Whitewater canoeing and kayaking are very popular in this part of Norway.

The bus ride from Voss back to Flam featured views of many lakes such as this one.

The cool Norwegian summers lead to bright flowers such as these at the Stalheim Hotel.

German soldiers had this view of the Naeroy Valley from one of the bunkers at the Stalheim Hotel.

Stalheim first became an overnight stopover in 1647 when the the Oslo – Bergen postal route was completed. The Stalheim Hotel was built in the 1885, and was occupied by the Germans during World War II.

Because of its strategic mountaintop location overlooking the Naeroy Valley, Germans occupied the historic Stalheim Hotel during World War II.

This bunker is a solemn reminder of the occupation of Norway by Germany during World War II.

Norwegians light huge bonfires to celebrate the summer solstice--the longest day of the year. The sun is up for about 20 hours in Flam during June.

The steep road from the Stalheim Hotel back to Flam includes daring hairpin turns and numerous switchbacks. It's quite exciting when two buses meet!

The waterfalls along the fjords of Norway are spectacular. This one was very near the village of Flam on the Aurlandsfjord (off Sognefjord).

This waterfall photo has some surprises! Can you see the kayakers along the bottom of the cliff?

Sailing away from Flam along the Sognefjord on the way to the sea.

Here's a last view of some of the waterfalls as the Jewel of the Seas sails along the Sognefjord.

Cruise ships feature marvelous views of the Aurlandsfjord and Sognefjord as they sail between the Norwegian Sea and Flam.